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Player summary, part 2: Adams: Evaluating Jed is a bit difficult because, if it hasn't already been mentioned, he looks a lot like Petts! And now that Petts is doing a lot of training with the backs it's even more confusing! When he first came his running was very poor but it's slowly improving. Rather than being a long way back he's now managing to keep up with the slower groups. I'm not sure how much of an issue that is given his most likely position is deep back but it's an area he'll have to work hard on. Encouragingly he's done a full preseason. He's been a bit more involved this PS than others and he's had some good cameos one being a really good pack mark which drew applause from coaches and players alike. His kicking is good and decision making okay but he still doesn't get involved as much as you'd like. I can see why we drafted him but he's a slow burn and being behind Tmac, Lever, May and Petty he's likely got another learning year at Casey. He'll need to show a lot more this year and will be an interesting watch. Hore: He's done what he's always done, all of the sessions in a reliable and solid matter. Marty is what he is and what we've seen in the past is what we'll get in the future. Verrall: Will is an interesting player. The major negative is his running is terrible and in the time trials I reckon he was 20 to 30 seconds our slowest player with one of the fitness staff running with him over the last couple of hundred yards to help him finish. His running issues are nothing new but don't appear to be improving much and that is an issue. He's also a bit of a tweener, not quite big enough for a ruck and is he agile enough to play a KP role. But he has attributes. For a tall he's very good below his knees and once the ball hits the ground he stays involved with some nice skills. But in his primary position as ruck he's outclassed by Tom Campbell and of course Gawny. And tbh I've not seen a major improvement this PS but others have commented that he's "bulked up" and looking much stronger. Campbell: Tom will be a terrific back up for Gawny. He started in rehab doing a lot of running but has progressed into the main group where he's been providing Gawny with some solid competition in ruck drills, something he didn't have last year. He's a neat player, knows the caper and looks to have fitted in really well. Sharp: The kid can run which is a huge advantage as it's allowed him to get to so many contests in the match sims. He's a neat player and his skill level reminds me a bit of ANB in his younger days although he's probably a bit neater below his knees than Nibber was. He does a lot of off ball work from what I've seen and played almost exclusively on the wing, often against Lingers (boy do they cover some ground) and I reckon he'd have learned a lot. I see him as best 22 at the moment but of course it's "dancing with your sister" time so I not overly confident about that. I am confident he'll work his way into best 22 over time and be a good solid player. He'll just get to so many contests and provide so many options and you'd expect him to be very damaging later in games when others are spent. Fritsch: Started in rehab and only moved into full training towards the back end of this period. But he was running freely and quickly from day one and looks to be really fit now. His skills have been on display and he looks a cut above a lot of the time but he always has. If he can get a good run of fitness leading into the season he should be set up for a good year. Sparrow: I hesitate to judge players physiques but it seems pretty obvious that Tom has trimmed down and is looking much leaner and defined than last year. He's in the midfield/wing group and hasn't missed a session. He's having a good PS and will have the opportunity to improve on last year. Fullarton: Again he looks bigger in the shoulders than last year but who knows. He was training well initially but then moved into the rehab group and has been doing a lot of running. On the track Tom looks to have so many good attributes but his challenge is to demonstrate them on gameday so we'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully he's out of rehab after Christmas and gets a good run for the rest of the PS. Petty: Well the major news which you all know is he's now officially a swingman as he's trained mainly with the backs but has done some forward work. He's a great competitor at training and he's shown all his well know attributes with positioning and marking. I'm hoping for a better season from him as he's done a full PS to date and hasn't missed a beat. Where he plays will depend on Tmac's form I guess and whether Jeffo takes his chances when they come. Pickett: Just wow, he's dominated training in match sims with his speed, agility and vision. He's training with the mids and if he plays the season there will give us a completely different look. Whether we can afford to miss him up forward will be interesting but he's just looking great. What a bummmer he's missing the first 3 games. Chandler: Fit, tough, involved and running better than ever finishing in the top 5 in the 2k time trial. It's sometimes easy to forget that even more mature players can improve as they move through their middle 20's but I think Chin will do that, just think of ANB's improvement over his time with us. He's not missed a beat this PS and appears to have taken on a much greater leadership role. I've had the pleasure of meeting him, he's a ripper, and leadership seems to be a natural place for him to be. Sestan: I called him "smokey" from day one and he's still one. Couldn't run much when he first got to us and was overweight for an AFL footballer but that has improved significantly now that he's into his third PS. He's got lots of attributes headlined by his kicking which is great but unfortunately he spent some time in rehab missing a lot of match sim sessions. He's playing with the forwards and doing a bit of clearance work and I'd imagine he'll play midfield at Casey but whether he can get fit enough to do that at AFL level who knows. I don't know what role he'd play in the seniors but he's giving it everything and won't die wondering if he could have given more. One of my favourites, I hope he makes it. Mentha: When I think of Ricky I think of a big smile and dancing feet! He loves to dance, dodge, twist and turn. He's about on a 50/50 success rate atm with all that but boy is it fun to watch. He's quick, has nice skills and good vision and if he can find the ball he will become a fan favourite pretty quickly. He's a young bloke on a steep learning curve and it looks like he's loving the journey. Great to have him on our list. Woewodin: Was training well and involved but ended up in the rehab group. I can't really add much because I haven't noticed him all that much so maybe other track watchers can fill in the gaps. Very neat player. Has he improved on last year? I hope so but I don't know. Brown: He looks taller to me but that might not be right. He excels at the running drills and looks better all round to me this year with his strength and agility. He's playing midfield and wing, mainly on the other side of the ground to where I stand but I've got this kid with a bullet this season as I can't see what he hasn't got. He's very clean, agile and quick. His kicking is perhaps his main area for improvement but he's moving solidly in the right direction. Johnson: I didn't really have much expectation when we drafted him given his lack of high level footy but JT has picked a good one I think. He's strong with good pace and ground ball skills. His marking is solid and he stays involved in the game when the ball hits the ground. It will be fascinating to see how he improves in an elite program but I expect him to start at Casey as he'd be behind a lot of our other talls. Kentfield: Luker is big and strong and has done a full preseason to date. He's doing everything reasonably well and he moves very well but he hasn't been all that involved in match sims but it would be hard for him as there are a lot in front of him and the match sims have mainly been ball movement where the tall forwards don't do much contest stuff. Another learning year for Luker but one thing he has in spades is the body to play AFL. Moniz-Wakefield: I really like Andy, he's a bright happy bloke with some really good AFL attributes. He hasn't stood out to me this year at PS as much as I'd like but sometimes I just don't see blokes. I know that sounds silly but there is so much going on and you're trying to take in so much. The good news is he's done all the training and is setting himself up well for the season. George: Roy is in the Ricky class, fun to watch and looks like a really engaging character. Whether he finds a way on to our list I don't know but he's been a lot more impressive than I expected and certainly has some of that indigenous magic. He's only done a couple of sessions so it's very early days. I guess the first step is hoping nobody else picks him up. In summary I reckon it's been a very good preseason simply because so many have done the majority of the sessions. The list looks happy and engaged. Troy Chaplin has certainly brought a different focus to the forward line with what seems to me much more instruction and involvement than Stafford. That's not a criticism of Greg, just an observation. Different coaches have different ways of doing things. When Scotty West was in charge of the mids in the late 00's he did all his coaching on field and he'd have the mids on field when other where looking at vision learning the ropes. But I like the fact that the players are hearing different voices at training and messages delivered in different ways. Observing training my guess is that Chin will take ANB's role and Sharp is likely to take the wing as Windsor moves back. The makeup of the forward line will be interesting with the main query being whether we use two or three KP players. Anyway it appears a fair bit of training after Christmas will be done at Casey which I won't be able to get to. Hopefully they have some at Gosch's that I'll be able to get to.

Pretty sure he is just playing the game with the GC here. Look it may be genuine but…. Let’s say he made the choice to come to the Dees 2 years ago - GC would kick him out of the academy right? So his only option is to keep his options open right to the end.

I don't think anyone would argue that we struggled in all phases last year. I hope 2024 will be seen as "the year we had to have" to be a bit of a wake up call for the club and Goodwin because had we won an extra won or two for those close games and snuck into finals I feel they would have thought "we're not far off" especially with the Petracca/Oliver injuries. The reality is we are a ways off but it is not irredeemable if we shift our focus. I think we still have the players but the game plan needs upheaval and we need to shift some of the focus (eg putting more reliance on some of the up and comers and not the veterans like Viney, Max, May etc). 2025 will be a very interesting season for us, if we get off to a poor start Goodwin will be on the chopping block. Last time I thought that was 2021 and it worked out ok. The reshuffling of the FD has been a good thing and should bring fresh ideas, I would've liked to see Richo moved on but he is there and obviously has the respect of those in the club or he wouldn't have lasted so long. A fit Petracca and Oliver (both of them physically and mentally) and a greater focus on attack could see us rebound quickly. If we continue with the boring, stagnant, down the line, conservative footy we will end up in a similar position to 2024.

This isn’t aimed at Demon supporters just a general observation! Aussie Ang P manager of Spurs is getting hammered in the press recently about his job under threat! Out of a squad of circa 25 senior players, he is supposedly missing 10. 1st choice players in keeper, Vicario, Van de Ven. , Romero, ( Davies backup) Odobert, Richarlson, Bentacaur suspended, Udogie. They win 4-3 against United and he is getting hammered because Goalkeeper makes two errors! They lose 4-3 against Chelsea where two of his players give away two dumb penalties- almost equivalent of player 70 meters out in AFL, I’ll push him over to give him a 50 meters penalty! Supporters and press hammer the manager, whenever team loses, rarely is a pragmatic view taken. More hysterical few loses sack the manager versus: - missing 5-6 starters from the team - playing kids and bench super thin - don’t blame the manager, keeper gifted two goals, otherwise it’s a shutout against MU - don’t blame the manager, two dumb penalties against Chelsea The Treatment of Ang provides an example of how supporters and the press all too often ignore facts, for sensationalistic headlines or overly dramatic conclusions! 18 teams in AFL, only win flag winner, last year for the Demons: - Oliver not fully fit all season - Trac gone half season - May ribs carried most of season - Fritsch and Petty foot/leg injuries carried from 2023 - Lever & Bowey injured in season 6 plus weeks - Salem preseason interrupted likely never fit - Brayshaw lost before season started - plus more - Club board & management seemingly a number of dumb things Add up all of the above and 11 wins a reasonable result! Destruction by Dockers twice and poor efforts against Pies are the results that made me want to puke! I would be much more upset if I was a supporter of Giants (choke in QF), Dogs (heartless finals performance against Hawks), and Dockers (not making finals)! Demons looking at 2025, fingers crossed for luck with injuries, a few lucky breaks during the year and a finals spot is ours for the taking!

This is a slow time of the year so I thought I'd put my thoughts down about our preseason to date. I've seen all but one training session but keep in mind it's one man's opinion and there is so much going on that you see only a fraction of what each player is doing on any particular day. But over the journey you get a fair view of all players. General Comments: Fitness: the players do appear fit and of particular note for me is the great condition our second year players have come back in. Windsor, Kolt and Brown all look really fit and have done almost the entire preseason. I think it's important and it indicates that they may not suffer "second year blues". We've also had the majority of players doing a full preseason. Those in the rehab group are well documented and none appear to have long term recoveries in front of them. Training: the drills have been similar to last year and to my eye there doesn't seem to be much change in the program. There seems to be an emphasis in using the corridor and moving the ball quickly but this is common with previous preseasons. On Wednesday, in windy conditions, when there was a little more pressure put on the ball carrier using the corridor proved problematic with a number of turnovers. Personnel May: he's doing another preseason and from memory hasn't missed a session. JvR: another that has done every session and looks fit and strong. He hasn't shone in the full field drills but many of them don't seem to be designed to allow key forwards much opportunity. He's a leader on the field and trains with high intensity. Salem: Started in rehab from day one with the 1 - 4th years running the boundary and has now progressed through his rehab and is in full training. He looks really fit and his skills and experience really show out in the full field drills. McVee: he's a rolls royce. Hasn't missed a session and is just so composed. He's trained mainly with the backs but has been involved with some clearance work. He's been pretty heavily involved in the drills and his kicking is a highlight. Petracca: well if you had doubts about his commitment you can just put that to bed. He's ripped, he's involved and he's special. Most importantly he doesn't seem hesitant about physical contact and regardless of what happens at the end of 25 I'm sure he's 100% committed to the 25 season. Windsor: Has moved to the backline and is an absolute standout for me this preseason to date. If Judd is a roller then Duke is a Lambo - so fast and with the skills to go with it. It's quite exciting to think what he could do this year coming. Viney: He only knows one way and you know what that is. Things haven't changed and he looks in great shape and hasn't missed and significant training. Lever: Slow laps have progressed to faster laps but he's in rehab and progressing slowly. See the injury update for more info. Spargo: For a bloke that hasn't played since round one last season he's been commented on quite a lot this preseason. Running, running and more running for Spargs as he progresses through his recovery and has now progressed into some of the skills sessions. It's been a long journey to get to where he is and I'd imagine it will take some time to get his touch back but he'll be a great addition to the playing list whether it be really good depth or in the 22. Turner: Another of the highlights for me and has shown some impressive skills and played well in the match play drills. Great hands, good kicking for goal and a lot of involvement when the ball hits the ground. Unfortunately tweeked something later in the preseason and has spent a few sessions doing what they do in rehab - run, run, run. He doesn't look in any discomfort and did the majority of the PS to date. Gawn: He's the best ruck and contested ruck in the AFL. It shows at training. He looks lean and fit. Shame about his injury but if he can still run with it I know what I'm going to be seen in January while he recovers. Tholstrup: the Kolt was a leader when it was the first to fourth years and I'm a big fan. He's hard to place but has been training forward and with the mids. Energetic, faster than I remembered, involved and very encouraging to his teammates. IMO can play and will surprise. Oliver: so much said but in the end Clarrie looks happy and relaxed and to my eye looks very fit. Perhaps not as ripped as in 21 but a different class of fit to 24. His ball handling is back and he's just getting it all the time. And his tackling is back too. I think we didn't really appreciate how much that hand injury impacted him last year. He's so important to us but things look good at present. Langdon: Lingers has been fantastic. So involved, so much running and his kicking is so improved on his earlier years. Laurie: Others have commented on his kicking and skills but I haven't noticed them this PS all that much. Where his running was elite last year (second behind ANB in the 2k trials) he's dropped a little this year. He's neat but there isn't much I can add other than he's done all the seasons and trained mainly with the forwards and some mid work as well. Bowey: Another standout who trained from day one with the young blokes. He looks terrific and his kicking is elite. Involved with high skills in ball handling and decision making. Hoping for a genuine break out year. All the signs are good. Melksham: I had him delisted at the end of 21 but initially in the 25 PS he was looking so fit and involved. He isn't there filling in the numbers he's right in the mix. Sadly he's done a hammy I suspect in the second last session and let's hope it's minor. Langford: Lots has been said and I can't add much. Just looks hungry and composed and "comfortable at the pace". Yes he's been caught a few times and he'll learn from that. Better in PS than in games. His footy IQ is elite, he just knows how to be involved, he works hard and his vision is great. I don't think his pace is an issue but his kicking is a little up and under over the shorter distances and is something to work on. He's a genuine class player in the making. Lindsay: really all I've seen from his is run, run, run and then do it again. He's been involved in a few of the quieter skills drills which are mainly done on the other side of the ground to where I stand so I can't offer much. But as I said to a mate "JT pick Windsor out of the pack and he looks great, no reason XL can't be the same. Jefferson: If you've read the training report, and if you've got this far into this I assume you have, much has already been said and I agree with it. He looks bigger and stronger. He's more involved. He's got very good skills and he's had some really good cameo moments. He's progressing nicely and I'm buying shares but they are slightly speculative. He's also done all sessions with is in sharp contrast to last year when he was on his own program well into February and if you remember he started in the backline for Casey. Howes: he's tall. If he's not as tall as Lever he's not far off it. He's just gone about his business. He makes very few mistakes and he's quietly involved if you know what I mean. He's one of those players you don't notice until you do and once you have you see he's much more involved than you thought. He's trained with the backs and done all sessions. McAdam: look there's been a lot of debate and quite a lot of criticism of him and while he's been in rehab and then absent I think he's looked in really good shape. He's just run so much with apparently no injury and I think they are just trying to do something different with him to get him through a season. So not much to report, make your own judgement but he looks fit and committed to me but I'm a glass half full sort of supporter. Rivers: looks great. Training with the mids and doing all the sessions. He's really powerful through his legs. There's no reason not to hope he picks up through the midfield and just adds to what he showed last year. Tmac: where to start? Well as one of the older statesmen he started from day one and was a standout for a good part of the PS. Perhaps a little quieter in the last few sessions but all he does is so clean and while many deny it, his kicking is very good. He's also extremely fit finishing high up in the time trials. It's hard to see him not in the starting 22 on form which makes it hard to see why Petty is going back. For me you can forget "Petty is the future". That's right but we are playing in the present and atm Tmac is a standout at training. I'll finish the players later and if there's interest. All this is really doing is summarising all the training reports of mine and others. I'd be interested in other track watchers view where they differ from mine because as I say, you don't see everything.

Totally understand that Waverley could be seen as an upgrade on our current situation allowing us to bring Admin and the Footy Dept together. But it would really only be a band-aid solution and we’d be in the same position Hawthorn have found themselves in, needing more space and eventually moving further out. IF we can pull Caulfield off we’ll have all the space we need and (finally) our own first class admin / office and training grounds / gyms / rehab areas etc etc all together in the one CLUB. It’s a no-brainer.

Just drove into the racecourse mid field area and it is massive.

Perhaps the second oval will have Kardinia Park's dimensions and that's also why we could easily fit both inside the racetrack.

I would like the Coaching crew to spend more time on opposition scouting. ie looking at games coming up and how to play those games, who to try and shut down, how to restrict their movement or free us up to play the way we want to. Back in 2020 and 2021 and the first half of 2022 it was all about getting the game on our terms. If we did that we would often / always win. It's different now as teams feel they have us beaten, they get the game on their terms and we can't shut them down or change the game to our advantage. Fremantle, Collingwood and Brisbane are three obvious examples. I would like to see us with more tactics to get back at some of the teams that have seemingly gone past us. Unless we change how we go about it I don't think we can beat those sides and that becomes your seasons death knell. We play Lions (away Round 10), Freo (at the MCG Round 6) and Collingwood (MCG Round 13 and again Round 24) . I agree every game is important and we need to be winning a lot of our games, but those three games in the first 13 rounds will be critical to our self belief for season 2025. I hope we don't just roll out the same lame stuff as this year.

It's really interesting you should highlight this. As a kid in the 70s soccer was a foreign sport, at least for me and my Anglo mates, and I never got into it. I have enjoyed it as a sport since the so called golden era for the socceroos - and have enjoyed watching the Australian mens and women's teams since. But I've never been able to get into epl, serie a etc ' or the A league as i haven't had a team to follow. But I've been following spurs since Ange became manager - not forensically, but watch the highlights and listen to his pressers. I subscribed to bein sports last Friday so I could watch the spurs man up cup game. Super entertaining. And speaking of entertaining, I have listened to a couple of ange's post man u cup game pressers. I was thinking of posting about those pressers, and the ones after the Chelsea loss, rangers draw, southhampton win and Bournemouth loss. In particular I was interested in ange's repeated emphasis after both wins and losses, on how many of his best players were out injured and the impact it has had (and has in general - ie the impact of injury on performance). None of the soldier out, soldier in, no excuses rubbish that AFL coaches fall into. Ange just say it like it is and states the facts - having so many players injured makes it very, very difficult. And not just once - repeatedly (he must have mentioned it 5 times in the presser the day after the man u game - linked below) across multiple interviews. At the same time he has also pumped up the players who have stepped up, particularly the several 18 - 20 year olds he's playing. So refreshing. 'If I lose anyone else I'll go nuts' - ange's last presser here: https://youtu.be/4QFFF6vjEME?si=XSc68DHbiD-Nygx3

Fans including dee's fans need to move on from using injuires to explain unsatisfactory results. Perhaps valid in 2019 and 2022. But in 2023 we kicked ourselves out of a Prelim and probably a flag. Yes, I know there were some injuries and other factors but we kicked 16.28 in two finals! The second semi was 9.17 with leaders having collective brain fades in the last minute and we lost by two points!!! A waste of a season imv. For 2024 injuries might've contributed to missing finals. But not 14th !!! To summarise our 2024, Goodwin: "... right now we aren't great at any phase of the game which means we haven't got an identity..." Believe him folks !! 14th wasn't injuries !! Anyway, lets move on to 2025 where I'm optimistic of making finals and going deep into Sept.

That made me laugh too - particularly his deadpan follow up that Carragher 'apparently' likes him and 'that's nice'. The irony of caraaghers criticism (that ange ball causes them to almost lose a game they were 3 nil up in), one that was strangely not pointed out by ange or any of the journos, is they gave up those goals when they went defensive and had stopped attacking (perhaps because they were out on their feet). The two brain fades from the keeper (forster) came after they passed back from the centre line instead of pressing forward. Imagine ange at an AFL presser - he'd make bevo look like a peacenik.

The key word is “great”. We might be good at some aspects and average or below average at others. SG wants great. And that’s great.

I think he said 'are you not entertained'. That made me laugh- quoting Russell crowe in the gladiator.

I suspect the lack of shepherding these days is because the player disposing of the ball instead tries to run to space to offer an option to receive again. In days of yore, there was more emphasis on kicking it forward asap, so protecting the player about to kick was more important.

DT you appear to be under a common misapprehension. Those are Holstein - Frieslans not a guernsey to be seen.

Thanks all for great commentary. I have been to a few sessions and found it hard to identify anything as comprehensive as you all do so really really appreciate your efforts. I am pleased that you all seem to see intensity in the sessions and the new voices that will add to differences that must be introduced. Just one additional thing. I have always thought our players seem to ignore the significance of shepherding to create space for the ball carrier. Particularly after giving off the ball. An often intense effort in tracking the ball or contest, getting the ball, it is then given off to another and the effort stops or lapses. Has there been any concentration on that continued effort to give the ball carrier time and space to get balanced and deliver better?

If you want government funding, you need the AFLW angle. Also using it for NGA purposes might be an idea. As for the second oval, I think Freo has a digital line marking machine. They can select the dimension of say Marvel Stadium and it will set out the dimensions for Marvel so in the lead up to an away game there, they can practice on it. A good idea. Something the Dees should consider.

By all accounts it was a small private occasion for immediate family and friends. Much like our home games.

when i was a young we were happy to train in a pot hole and when it rained we just moved to a shoe box but you try telling that to the young people nowadays

Another interesting thing about ange in terms of intersections with AFL is the coverage of his game style over there in terms of the gap between reality and perception. That's well captured in this quote from the article linked below: 'It is instructive that only coaches who have a clearly defined and recognisable style seem to have that style blamed for every single shortcoming, even if the logic doesn’t always hold up to scrutiny. Postecoglou’s football is, indeed, serving a secondary purpose: it is exposing just how much of modern football discourse is based on tired old tropes, flimsy premises and Colbert-style truthiness. It feels right to say United’s second-half surge was because Postecoglou is stubborn and didn’t tell his players to “get hold of that game”, even though it only happened because of freak individual errors that had nothing to do with anything else. It feels right to criticise Spurs for being “too open” and “chaotic”, even if their stats show they are one of the Premier League’s best defensive teams, and that they’ve not lost a single game this season by more than a one-goal margin.' https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/are-you-not-entertained-postecoglou-is-two-steps-away-from-vindication-with-spurs-20241220-p5kzwp.html

But is Ang the right guy?

It's not just getting the ball, it's how you use it.

Thanks 'bin'...I found that whole press conference entertaining. He really seems to enjoy poking fun at the pundits...what was his line about Carragher?, you can name him. Or the Roy Keane not being a good guy one. I really enjoy some of the stuff from Keane, Neville, Wright, Carragher and Scott on the overlap. Very entertaining but some of them struggle to get Ange.

That quote wasn't a media clickbait headline. It wasn't a throw away line by Goodwin at a press conf; he said it at the AGM which isn't a forum for flippancy. imv we need to accept it as correct.

Love Ang...he's very much his own man. The problem is the Brit pundits (and some of the Spurs stick in the mud fans) can't understand how an Aussie can come from out of nowhere and turn the competition on it's head with a different style of play. As he asked one of them the other night "was it entertaining?"...

Sorry. Didnt want to be so negative. I am still very positive with the squad and prospects for the flag. Just as stated ambivalent on the Caulfield project. It will require a lot of management. I was also extremely pleased with Brad Green at the AGM. He presented and responded well. I particularly liked his comment that the club would communicate clearly and consistently.

Well DP, maybe we could hang onto the lease we have on Goschs and in turn sub lease it to the Pies for a kings ransom until we at least get the money back that has been spent on Gischs. 😀

Unrealistic expectations and being a fan is part of the deal - always has been and always will be.

I reckon we need a number of different approaches to the game. The way to beat Brisbane is different to the way to beat Geelong and different to the way to beat footscray. I also think we have an excellent squad that can give the flexibility to field a team suited to each opposition. This can also allow us to rest those that will benefit from that and give experience to those that need that. I think the coaching team are really on top of the job and Richardson expreseed that really well at the AGM. Im looking forward to a positive year.

TalkingCarlton Hard to read as page is all in blue. Nowhere near as good as Demonland

We should pay someone to line him up like Maynard did with Gus. I guess we don’t play him till after round 8 , so hopefully someone from another side will stop him from breaking our Jimma’s record.

Not just that. Two grounds means one can be the exact dimensions of the G and the other configurable to other grounds and/or permanently marked with things that assists others training drills, eg lanes or grids.

I thin by the end of the season we might be hearing 'How did Lindsay get to pick 11', what a steal.

Hmmm, ok - just asking for a friend, what's the ascending version of a deathride?

Yes we are both Dees fans and I did attend RDB’s Memorial Service last year flying in and home from Brisbane on the one day. There is no one in the AFL that is greater than our RDB. He stands above in credibility performance and loyalty to a cause.

Christian Petracca marries partner Bella in stunning ceremony Congratulations to Christian Petracca and Bella Beischer who tied the knot yesterday in a stunning ceremony at the Royal Botanic Gardens. There were plenty of Demon teammates on hand enjoying the ceremony. The couple drove off in a vintage Mercedes with a beaming Beischer wearing a beautiful white strapless gown and clutching white flowers ending a dramatic six month period for them after that sickening on-field clash in June. Congratulations and looking forward to a better year ahead, some more flags and Norm Smiths and plenty of father/son and father/daughter player in the future.

Wasnt the whole idea of a new home base to get everything under the same roof... The club isnt just AFL

It’s very encouraging that the Club has fessed up on many levels that 2023-24 were just not acceptable I wish things had happened earlier, but they are certainly happening now It will be a very different Team in 2025

The slow and boring game style of 2024 was a #myth.. I've seen it all now.. lol

#joyride

A cry for 'Help' @Fanatique Demon ? Allow me to assist. See Blue comments: So realistically… Eleven teams are starting 2025 in front of us. Some have had a better draft result (eg Brisbane). Langford is a pretty good result. Some have players coming back from injury (eg Carlton, Collingwood). Petracca and Oliver say 'hi' Some recruited stars from other clubs (eg Collingwood). Houston? 👎 Some had great years but just fell short (eg GWS, Hawthorn). Give you GWS, Hawks, yeah but nah Some have young guns who are ahead of ours (eg Geelong) Ouch! Windsor, JvR. McVee, Kozzie etc ?? And of those below us… One has a gift-from-heaven 2025 draw (ie, the GC Suns). Our draw isn't too shabby! One failed to meet expectations in 2024 despite a good list, and can be expected to bounce back (ie, Adelaide). Ditto the Dees Hope that cheers you up a little! We have the players. If coaches bring and teach a more effective and versatile method we will be playing finals and imv go deep in Sept.

Godwin's honesty is about a point in time, season 2024...last season where we finished 14th. Now 'BBP', you are a renowned glass half empty type but I doubt Goodwin sees us performing the same way in season 2025. If we get a clear run at it there is no reason for us not to finish top 4 and be in the running for another flag.

It’s probably keeping his larynx in place.

Good to see Clarrie there,

I mean the truth is we got smacked in the middle, especially in the 2nd half of the season. This means our backline was under siege and our fwd line was limited. A fit trac and clarry go a LONG way to fixing this on their own.

Very much looking forward to seeing the Melbourne Demons Learnings Centre built.

Recent scenes a Gosch's give cause for optimism.

The good thing is that today's date is 20 December 2024 and they play the Grand Final on 27 September 2025. If I remember correctly, we weren't great at any phase of the game on 20 December 2020 either.

We lost 4 games against top 8 sides by a kick. We aren't that far away. And that is with just about everything going wrong for us in 2024. The question was "Is this fixable in 1 off season or are we delusional thinking we can make the 8 with aging stars ?" The answer is of course it is fixable. Getting our key players back on the park play their best footy is the first key. The second is adjusting the game plan which is never as difficult as people seem to think. Thirdly we have a pretty easy draw that should see us 6-2 or 7-1. That momentum should see us make the 8 easily. We only play one 2024 top side twice and supposedly have the second easiest draw. If you look at which players improved or maintained excellence in 2024 (excl 1st year players) it is a very small list; Viney, Rivers, TMac, Langdon, Gawn and maybe McVee. There is a lot of upside for many of our players. That we are 14th in flag betting at 26 to 1 is ridiculous. we should be very optimistic about our chances in 2025